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Premier Christy Clark says Yap has stepped aside as minister responsible for multiculturalism and minister of advanced education, innovation and technology until a review of a government leaked strategy is competed

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark, left, and then multiculturalism minister John Yap walk together during an announcement at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Richmond, B.C., on Friday December 7, 2012. Yap has stepped aside from his cabinet position pending an investigation of the government's ethnic voter outreach scandal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

John Yap, advanced education minister and the minister responsible for multiculturalism, stepped down even though he said he was “caught completely off guard” by the leak last week of a government multicultural plan that was written three months before he became minister.

“I am the minister responsible, this is an issue that involves multiculturalism, and the responsibility rests with me,” Yap told reporters.

Yap’s departure is the second resignation related to the ethnic outreach scandal. The premier’s longtime adviser and deputy chief of staff, Kim Haakstad, resigned Friday.

The draft multicultural outreach plan, dated 2012, appears to show officials in the premier’s office, the multiculturalism ministry, and the Liberal caucus collaborating to use taxpayer resources to help the B.C. Liberal Party attract voters in ethnic communities and improve the chance of winning key ridings in the election.

The document also encouraged the provincial government to offer apologies for historical wrongs to ethnic communities as “quick wins” for the Liberal party.

The premier again apologized to British Columbians in the legislature Monday, calling it a “very serious mistake.”

“It was wrong, and I’m very, very sorry that it was ever created,” she said.

“So I want to start by offering that personal and very sincere apology.”

Clark sidestepped questions on whether she planned to resign over the scandal, saying she wants to see the outcome of an investigation by her deputy minister John Dyble.

“When we have all the facts, and when the report is tabled, we’ll be likely required to take further action, and I will take that action,” she said when asked if she’d resign.

The multicultural plan has outraged some ethnic community groups, and plunged the Clark government into crisis.

Several MLAs and cabinet ministers broke ranks to publicly criticize the plan and the premier’s response last week.

Clark apologized to them Monday and told media she should have cancelled a newspaper editorial board meeting when the crisis broke Thursday to deliver her apology personally in the legislature. Instead, deputy premier Rich Coleman read her statement.

So far, Clark appears to have held angry MLAs in check.

Cabinet ministers publicly pledged support for the premier after an emergency meeting Sunday.

Liberal MLAs emerged from a caucus meeting at the legislature Monday also professing support and saying they stand together as a caucus.

But at one point Monday, Liberal caucus chair Gordon Hogg told reporters he wasn’t happy with the situation.

“I’m certainly disappointed with the way this has played out and frustrated with it.”

The Opposition NDP piled on the crisis Monday with a new document that showed “action items” by officials in the premier’s office, ministries and caucus in executing the plan.

Haakstad’s name is all over ethnic outreach documents leaked to the NDP, including an email that described her as “keeper of the files.”

Clark continued to insist the premier’s office did not draft the document, though Haakstad did oversee its development.

Ralph Sultan, the minister of state for seniors, is taking over Yap’s duties.

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark, left, and then multiculturalism minister John Yap walk together during an announcement at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Richmond, B.C., on Friday December 7, 2012. Yap has stepped aside from his cabinet position pending an investigation of the government's ethnic voter outreach scandal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

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